Stevenage Running Clubs Results and News – 10th March 2025

Stevenage Striders Running Club

Sunday was a fantastic day for running, with Striders taking on challenges near and far. From the Cambridge Half Marathon to the scenic cycle paths and hills of Stevenage, our runners embraced the sunshine, the race atmosphere, and the joy of the sport.

Cambridge Half Marathon – A Day of PBs and Team Spirit

A well-prepared and determined group of Striders took on the picturesque streets of Cambridge, tackling the half marathon with enthusiasm. While many noted the unexpected warmth, it didn’t stop them from achieving incredible personal bests, completing their first-ever half marathon, or simply soaking in the race-day energy.

Beyond personal achievements, the true Striders’ spirit shone through, as runners paused to support fellow participants battling dehydration, cramps, and exhaustion. The combination of determination and kindness truly set the tone for an unforgettable race day!

Cambridge Half Marathon

Abdullah Athar was first home, earning an incredible new PB in 01:17:50.
Peter Moye finished in a impressive time of 1:29:16.
Andrea Skidmore, running her first race since the Stevenage Marathon, found the heat tough but still enjoyed the atmosphere, finishing in 1:52:35.
Jim Callaghan achieved a season’s best and course best, finishing in 1:52:45 and describing the race as warm, enjoyable, and a beautiful course.
Helen Moye completed the race for the 12th time, finishing in 1:53:14. enjoying what she called a “solar-powered run.”
Kate Towsey impressively raced during Ramadan, completing the course in 1:56:10 without being able to eat or drink from dawn to dusk.
Chrissie Thomas achieved a course best by over 8 minutes, setting a season’s best with 2:08:01, despite tough conditions.
Sarah Kinsella battled the heat to finish in 2:08:35.
Scott Stamper celebrated a personal best, slicing 5 minutes off his previous record with 2:14:43.
Marc Hagland ticked off half marathon #88 with a time of 2:23:00.
Peter Monk added another half to his list, finishing in 2:23:24

RunThrough Battersea Park Half Marathon
On Saturday Dawn Barry delivered an outstanding performance, securing a personal best and course best with a time of 2:14:18! Almost 13 minutes faster than her first half marathon just four months ago. The flat, multi-lap course provided great conditions for a fast run, making for a fantastic way to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.

Dorney Half Marathon
Fi Westcough surprised herself with a personal best of 1:58:04 on the four-lap Dorney course, enjoying the beautiful weather and celebrating an unexpected but well-earned achievement.

Fairlands Valley Spartans

A lovely sunny day and 29 Spartans ran the sell out Cambridge Half Marathon. A few found it a bit warm but many got new personal bests or otherwise ran some really good times.

First in for FVS was ANDREW PATTERSON, 83^rd out of 14,000 runners in just 1 hour 14 minutes 19 seconds (1:14:19). Next in was SIMON JACKSON, 132^nd in 1:16:06. SIMON FRASER was also under 80 minutes at 24^5thwith 1:19:09.

ASHLEY JOHNSON was Fairlands fastest female and she ran a fantastic 1:25:37. She was second female 45 plus in the race.

This season, said MARTIN JACOB, I started doing some strength workouts. Turns out it’s doing the trick. On Sunday he ran the Cambridge Half marathon in 1:44:29. This a PB by 1 minute 27 seconds. He is super happy with the results.

LINDA GEORGE also ran in Cambridge. She finished in 02:00:23. This was her second fastest half marathon. She is very pleased with results considering it was a hot day.

Woo! JESSICA CLARKE ran a new personal best of 1:49:24 and JAY PAPA cut his PB by nearly three minutes to 1:24:59.

Spartan MIKE JEFFS ran the Cambridge Half Marathon for the third year in a row and it was another PB (personal best) 1:20:22 shaving 2 minutes 50 seconds off his previous best.

PAUL SHELLEY went around in an impressive 1:24:13 with ALISON SHELLEY finishing in 2:09:37.

1:25:57 for NICK GILL on Sunday. He was hoping to sneak under 1:25, but the warm weather took it out of him in the second half. But still, his second fastest half marathon and the comeback from injury continues! It was great to run with fellow Spartans Jay and Michael who both smashed their PBs (personal bests), and so much brilliant running all round.

Brian WHITE said it was great to be part of a large FVS team running the Cambridge Half marathon in some very nice sunshine. A great tour of a few of the colleges and the surrounding countryside. He finished in 1:44:49

SHARON CROWLEY said it was far too hot for her. She finished in 2:51:32.

Seven Spartans averaged under 4 minutes per kilometre for all 21.1kilometres.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 8^th March

Many stayed away or kept the pace down in preparation for Sunday’s Cambridge Half Marathon but there were still over 500 runners, 504, at Stevenage parkrun and 29 were Spartans. Altogether 42 from FVS ran parkruns on Saturday.

It was the special red cape for NIKI PLUMB who ran her 50 parkruns milestone in 38:14. This week LORRAINE HILL was the fastest female from Fairlands with 26:43. JIM BROWN ran his fastest parkrun this year with 27:52 and NICOLA HATHERLY ran her 60^th with 38:12.

Stevenage Phoenix Running Club

Stowmarket Half Marathon

The Stowmarket Half Marathon takes in some of Suffolk’s quietest rural country roads through undulating scenic countryside. On Sunday 9^th March, Peter Tungate managed his 3rd fastest half marathon time in 1:47:56 on the open road course and finished the week on 44 miles.

Cambridge Half Marathon

The much-anticipated Cambridge Half Marathon celebrated its 14^thedition this weekend, and this year was the first time runners received a finisher’s t-shirt in addition to their medal. On Sunday 9^th March seven Phoenixes took on the fast and flat course, along with Katka Laughton and Simona Leadbetter who were there volunteering. The training paid off for Conor O’Neill who shaved over 5mins off his course record from 2024. “The sun was out and a warm day it turned out to be. A bit on the warm side for running. Shade when found was welcome… What makes Cambridge special is the route through the colleges crossing the Cam a couple of times, meandering through a portion of the backs and solid crowds supporting all the way. Then the route drives on out to the skirts of the city and through Grantchester. This is where the support thickens again and then it’s the return to the city centre and finish where we started on Midsummer Common. I’d like to think I enjoyed it. Probably in a couple of days.”